Shoe-fastening



(No Model.)

C. B. BURTON.

SHOE PASTBNING.

'-NO. 439,661. Patented Nov. 4, 1890 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES B. HORTON, OF NEVARK, NEV YORK.

SHOE-FASTENING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,661, dated November 4, 1890.

Application filed July 25,1890. Serial No. 359,862. (No` model.)

` To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES B. l-IORTON, of Newark, in the county of Vayne and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Shoe-Fastenings, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specifica-tion, and shown in the accompanying drawings.

My invention is an improved fastener for shoe-laces attached at the top of the shoe, the same being hereinafter fully described, and more particularly pointed out in the claim.

Referring` to the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of the upper part of a shoe, showing my improved lace-holder attached; Fig. 2, a view of the parts seen as indicated by arrow in Fig. l, the parts being sectioned, as on the dotted line 2 2; Fig. 3, a view seen as indicated by arrow y in Fig. l, the parts being sectioned, as on the dotted line 3 3. Figs. 4C and U show different forms of the blank of the device; Fig. 5, a view at the inside of the shoe opposite to that shown in Fig. l; and Fig. 7, an' elevation of the device, drawn toa larger scale, to better show the construction and operation of some of the parts.

Referring to the parts, A is a shoe of common constructioma being the lace, and l) the hooks for the lace.

At Bis shown myiinproved fastener, which consists in part of an L-shaped metallic plate c, secured firmly to the shoe, said plate constituting a frame for holding the other parts.

d is a button or stud rigid with the plate, formed with a head around which the lace is turned before being inserted in the holder e. This holder is U-shaped or forked, having one branch f made rigid with the plate c, the other branch, g being free to move within limits. The upper ends of these branches are beveled to form an opening to enable thelace to be conveniently inserted between them.

h is a loop rigid with the plate in position to inclose the holder, as shown. This loop does not firmly press the holder all around; but spacez' is left to allow the free branch g to bend outward or away from the other branch to a limited distance. This loop serves te re-enforce the holder when the outer branch is forced outward by crowding the lace between the branches. Thus, although the branch g springs away from the branch f easily at first to allow the lace to be readily entered between them, when it bends outward so far as to encounter the rigid loop, it then yields to the pressure of the lace less readily and forms a irm clamp or holder.A for the lace. This holder is formed withl a spring-bend 7o below the loop, which holds the branch gnorinally against the branch f, and will of its own action hold the lace with considerable tirinness. When, however, the pressure brought against the branch is too great, from a thick lace being employed or from forcing the lace well down toward the loop, the latter supports the branch g against the stress, as above stated.

The plate c, as shown in Fig. 4, is provided with prongs Z,which when the device is secured to the shoe are turned at right angles to the plate through the leather and clinched over circular metallic plates or washers n onthe inner surface of the shoe. This forms a ready and convenient means for securing the fastener to the shoe. The plate may, however, be formed as shown in Fig. 6, having eyelet-holes o, by means of which it may be secured to the shoe by ordinary eyelets. In either case the lining of the shoe covers the parts at the inner surface of the leather. There may be one of these fasteners secured to each 'side of the shoe or to only one side, according to the manner in which the shoe is laced.

That I claim as my invention is In a shoe-fastener, an L-shaped plate secured to the shoe, a holder for the lace consisting of two equal and straight prongs, one being rigid with the plate and the other free to move, a loop rigid with the plate and snr-Y rounding the holder to support the free prong thereof, and a button rigid with the plate, said prongs being joined by a spring-bend below said loop, substantially as shown.

In witness whereof l have hereunto set my hand, this 25th day of June, 1890, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES B. HORTON.

Witnesses:

E. B. WHlTi/TORE, M. L. MCDERMOTT. 

